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Richard J. Blandau films, circa 1947-1991

Overview of the Collection

Filmmaker
Blandau, Richard J.
Title
Richard J. Blandau films
Dates
circa 1947-1991 (inclusive)
Quantity
1 folder : Text
19 reels : black and white, color, sound and silent ; 16mm
Collection Number
PH1003
Summary
Films created by Richard J. Blandau using photomicroscopy techniques and medical illustration to capture cellular behaviors, ovulation, fertilization and reproduction, as well as, the embryonic development of the heart.
Repository
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

The original films are not accessible due to preservation concerns. Viewing copies are available and arrangements can be made to view the film by contacting the Visual Materials Curator.

Request at UW

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was partially provided through a grant awarded by the Society for the Study of Reproduction
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Biographical Note

Richard Julius Blandau was a researcher, professor of biological structure and administrator at the University of Washington School of Medicine. Blandau was born in Erie, Pennsylvania, in 1911. After receiving an A.B. degree in biology and chemistry from Linfield College in 1935, he went on to earn a Ph.D. in 1939 from Brown University, and an M.D. degree in 1948 from the University of Rochester. Dr. Blandau served as a Fellow of the National Research Council at Yale University, and served on the medical faculty of Brown, Harvard University and the University of Rochester. He was recruited to join the original faculty of the UW School of Medicine. In 1949, Dr. Blandau became an associate professor in the Department of Anatomy (now called Biological Structure). He later served as an assistant dean of the medical school from 1955 to 1960 and as associate dean from 1960 to 1964.

While at the university, Dr. Blandau engaged in basic studies on ovulation, fertilization and embryonic development that led to advances in human fertility. He produced teaching and research films and pioneered time-lapse photography of mammal ovulation. His filmed documentation of how the egg is released from the ovary and guided into the oviduct won a Vienna Film Festival Award in 1959. He authored 138 articles and edited six textbooks. He was a president of the American Fertility Society, the American Association of Anatomists, and the Society for the Study of Reproduction. He received the Borden Research Award, the Ortho Research Award, the Barren Foundation Gold Medal, and was designated an Outstanding Teacher by the 1980 graduating class. He lectured around the globe, and was a member of many advisory groups, including the National Advisory Council on Child Health and Human Development, the World Health Organization Panel on Human Reproduction, the Population Crisis Committee, the NIH Advisory Committee on Population Affairs, and the International Childbirth Association. He was commissioned as a Kentucky Colonel in 1979 by the Governor of Kentucky. Blandau retired from the University of Washington in 1981 and died on May 11, 1998 in Seattle.

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Content Description

Films created by Richard J. Blandau using photomicroscopy techniques and medical illustration to capture cellular behaviors, ovulation, fertilization and reproduction, as well as, the embryonic development of the heart.

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Other Descriptive Information

Congenital Malformations of the Heart, Part 1, Development of the Normal Heart was restored by Dr. Robert Acland from the University of Kentucky. This restoration was made from Dr. Blandau's personal copy of the film, using the best available film scanning technology. A new voice-over was created for the retored film, using the same words and timing as in the original.

Titles were derived from Dr. Blandau's notes accompanying the films.

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Use of the Collection

Alternative Forms Available

View selections from the collection in digital format

Restrictions on Use

Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact the Special Collections division of the University of Washington Libraries for details.

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Administrative Information

Processing Note

Processed by Laurel G Evans, 2006 ; Andrew Weaver, 2014 : Hannah Palin, 2014. Processing completed 2015.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

 

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Moving Image Collections (University of Washington)
  • Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)
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